Say Chic

Ever wonder why French words have become so common in English as to be cliches? Or why your witty repartee wouldn't be quite so witty without them? In Say Chic Francoise Choi and Jeremy Leven collect more than seventy familiar French words and phrases that have become a permanent part of the English vocabulary. The authors offer full-bodied descriptions of word origins and each word's adoption into English usage that include history, pop culture, etymology and pithy observations. Combining the sensibilities of an American author and a French author, the book has a droll, often deadpan tone, and no small amount of panache. Compact in size and featuring twenty playful illustrations by Paulina Reyes as well as that elusive je ne sais quoi, Say Chic is a mine of intriguing words and the stories behind them, which will find its raison d'etre on the bookshelf of any enlightened reader.